Contraception Against Birth Defects

Because contraception is an intrinsic moral evil, which no good intention can justify, there can be no exceptions for it. A core principle of Catholic moral teaching is that we may not do evil even if we want good to come from it. Therefore the Church cannot provide any exceptions for contraception, when directly chosen as a moral object, even for a good reason such as concern for potential birth defects.

This teaching can be challenging, as many Christian moral teachings are—especially in a world that judges acts solely by intentions or consequences rather than by whether the acts themselves are good or bad. But no Christian teaching, however challenging it seems, is beyond the ability of ordinary people to follow. Our faithful cooperation with God’s grace makes all things possible, and even the hardest teachings are ultimately ordered to our happiness.